Glassware forming machine molds opening/closing device

ABSTRACT

A mold of a glassware forming machine has a longitudinal plane of symmetry, and two half-molds movable between a closed position and an open extraction position by a powered mold opening/closing device, which has a fixed fastening and supporting structure, two mold-holders, and, for each mold-holder, a respective supporting and actuating arm hinged to the relative mold-holder to rotate about a movable hinge axis, and to the fixed structure to rotate about a fixed hinge axis; the fixed hinge axes being located on opposite sides of the plane of symmetry, and at such a distance from the plane of symmetry that, when the half-molds are in the closed position, the line intersecting the fixed axis and movable axis of each arm extends substantially parallel to the plane of symmetry.

The present application is a continuation of U.S. Patent applicationSer. No. 12/027,758filed on Feb. 7, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,082,758issued Dec. 27, 2011, entitled “GLASSWARE FORMING MACHINE MOLDSOPENING/CLOSING DEVICE” which claims the benefit of Italian PatentSerial No. TO 2007 A 000090 filed Feb. 7, 2007 entitled “GLASSWAREFORMING MACHINE MOLDS OPENING/CLOSING DEVICE” and claims foreignpriority benefits under 35 U.S.C. § 119, the entire content of each isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

The present invention relates to a glassware forming machine moldsopening/closing device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In glassware forming, forming machines commonly known as I.S. formingmachines are used, which comprise a number of side by side formingsections, each for producing a respective sequence of products. Eachforming section comprises a rough mold, normally comprising a row ofside by side cavities, each for receiving a glass gob and forming arespective semifinished article, which is then transferred to a finishmold by means of an inverter. Each rough mold comprises two half-moldsmovable with respect to each other between a closed position definingthe row of cavities, and an open position in which to remove thesemifinished articles.

The half-molds are moved between the open and closed positions by meansof a mold opening/closing device comprising an actuating arm for eachhalf-mold. The actuating arms are connected at one end to the respectivehalf-molds, and are hinged at the other end to a fixed supportingstructure to rotate, in opposite directions and with respect to thefixed structure, about a fixed common hinge axis aligned with andparallel to the row of cavities.

The arms are connected to transmissions activated by respectiveactuators, which, also for reasons of size, are located at a distancefrom the mold.

Though widely used, known solutions of the above type have severaldrawbacks. In particular, the location of the arm hinge axis posesproblems when working with a large number of cavities, on account of thecavities not being opened simultaneously and in the same way, due to thedifferent trajectories travelled by the various portions of thehalf-molds, depending on how far away they are from the hinge axis. Andthis is reflected in the semifinished articles, which, by the time themolds are open, have different surface qualities and, at times, evendifferent structural characteristics, sometimes bordering on thecritical.

Known opening/closing devices are also unsatisfactory in terms ofefficiency, particularly when the machine is operated at a high outputrate, and are invariably bulky, especially perpendicular to thelongitudinal plane of symmetry of the mold. This is mainly due to thetransmissions having extremely long torsion shafts for transferringmotion from the remote actuator, and which inevitably twist, thuscreating unacceptable delays in opening/closing the molds, andunpredictable wear which, once initiated, worsens rapidly anduncontrollably.

Besides being complex and bulky, the transmissions of known solutionsare also located alongside or outwards of the arms, thus increasing thesize of the mold opening/closing devices crosswise.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a moldsopening/closing device designed to provide a straightforward, low-costsolution to the above problems, and which, at the same time, isefficient, reliable, and compact.

According to the present invention, there is provided a device foropening/closing a mold of a glassware forming machine, the mold having alongitudinal plane of symmetry, and comprising two movable half-molds;the device comprising a supporting structure, and, for each saidhalf-mold, a respective mold-holder, and a respective supporting andactuating arm hinged to the relative mold-holder to rotate about amovable hinge axis, and to the supporting structure to rotate about afixed hinge axis; the device also comprising actuating means forrotating the arms in opposite directions with respect to the supportingstructure, and for moving the half-molds between a closed position andan open position; and being characterized in that said fixed hinge axesare located on opposite sides of said plane of symmetry, and at such adistance from the plane of symmetry that, when the half-molds are in theclosed position, the line intersecting said fixed axis and said movableaxis of each arm extends substantially parallel to said plane ofsymmetry.

In the device defined above, said half-molds preferably surround movableretaining means for retaining semifinished articles formed in said mold;said movable retaining means being maintained connected to saidhalf-molds and in a plane perpendicular to said plane of symmetry and tosaid fixed and movable axes; and said actuating means comprise at leasta linear actuator intersected by said plane.

The present invention also relates to a glassware forming machine.

According to the present invention, there is provided a glasswareforming machine comprising a section frame; at least one mold having alongitudinal plane of symmetry, and comprising two movable half-molds;and an opening/closing device for moving the half-molds between a closedposition and an open position; characterized in that saidopening/closing device is as claimed in the attached Claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A number of non-limiting embodiments of the invention will be describedby way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a plan view, with parts removed for clarity, of a firstpreferred embodiment of the molds opening/closing device according tothe present invention associated with an inverter, shown partly, of aglassware forming machine;

FIG. 2 shows a section along line II-II in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a section, with parts removed for clarity, along lineIII-III in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4 a and 4 b show, schematically and with parts removed forclarity, a mold opening/closing device in accordance with the inventionin two different operating positions;

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 3, and shows a second preferred embodiment ofthe molds opening/closing device according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows a partial view in perspective of a portion of the moldopening/closing device in FIGS. 1 and 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Number 1 in FIGS. 1 and 2 indicates as a whole a machine for formingglassware items (not shown). Machine 1 comprises one or more side byside forming stations; and each forming station comprises a knownsupporting structure or section frame 2 (shown partly in FIG. 2), arough mold assembly 2 a fitted to section frame 2 and for forming anumber of semifinished articles, and a known inverter 3, not describedin detail, for transferring the semifinished articles from rough moldassembly 2 a to a finish mold assembly (not shown).

Inverter 3 comprises a number of gripping or retaining members 5,commonly known as collars, movable between a grip position (FIG. 2), inwhich gripping members 5 lie in a single plane A, and a release position(not shown) rotated substantially 180° about a hinge axis L.

Rough mold assembly 2 a comprises a multicavity mold 4 having alongitudinal plane of symmetry P perpendicular to plane A, and in turncomprising two movable lateral half-molds 6. Half-molds 6 are located onopposite sides of plane P, surround gripping members 5, and define, withgripping members 5, a number of side by side cavities 8 havingrespective axes 9 of symmetry in plane P. Half-molds 6 are movable, withrespect to gripping members 5, between a closed position (FIG. 1)defining cavities 8, and an open position enabling removal of thesemifinished articles, by a mold opening/closing device 10 forming partof rough mold assembly 2 a.

As shown in FIG. 2, device 10 comprises a hollow supporting andfastening structure 14 connected releasably to section frame 2 ofmachine 1 by screws, and extending upwards from section frame 2 andpartly alongside mold 4.

With reference to FIG. 1, device 10 also comprises, for each half-mold6, a respective known mold-holder insert or member 18, not described indetail, which has an intermediate portion hinged to a respectivesupporting and actuating arm 19 to rotate, with respect to arm 19, abouta movable hinge axis 20 perpendicular to plane A. Each arm 19 isL-shaped, and has an end portion opposite that hinged to relativemold-holder insert 18 hinged to supporting structure 14 by a respectivehinge pin 22 to rotate about a respective fixed hinge axis 23 parallelto movable axis 20. Pins 22 are located on opposite sides of plane P ofsymmetry, and at such a distance D from plane P of symmetry that, whenhalf-molds 6 are in the closed position, the line 25 intersecting hingeaxes 20 and 23 of each arm 19 extends substantially parallel to plane Pof symmetry, as shown in FIG. 1.

With reference to FIG. 1, arms 19 are oscillated about respective fixedhinge axes 23 by a single linear actuator 28 housed inside supportingstructure 14, extending over section frame 2, and so intersected by acontinuation of plane A (FIG. 2).

In the example described, linear actuator 28 is a double-actingpneumatic actuator, and comprises a fixed outer cylinder 29 lockedinside structure 14 and laterally defining a chamber 30, in which slidesa piston 31 fitted through with an output rod 32, which moves back andforth in a direction 33 perpendicular to axes 20 and 23, and lying inplane P of symmetry, adjacent to and below plane A. Rod 32 has an endportion 34 projecting outwards of supporting structure 14, on theopposite side to mold 4, and fitted with an intermediate portion of acrosspiece 36, which is connected to an intermediate angle portion ofeach arm 19 by a respective lever transmission 37.

Each transmission 37 comprises two connecting rod-crank assemblies 38and 39 located one outside and the other inside supporting structure 14.Connecting rod-crank assemblies 38 and 39 of each transmission areconnected to each other by a respective intermediate shaft 40 extendingparallel to axes 20 and 23; and each intermediate shaft 40 is located ata distance D1 from plane P of symmetry greater than distance D, and isconnected to structure 14 to rotate about its axis of symmetry, whichlies in a plane perpendicular to plane P of symmetry, and is located onthe opposite side of axes 23 to the mold.

With reference to FIG. 1, each connecting rod-crank assembly 38comprises a forked crank 42 fitted to a top end portion of respectiveintermediate shaft 40; and a connecting rod 43 hinged at one end torelative crank 42, and at the other end to L-shaped arm 19.

With reference to FIG. 3, each assembly 39 comprises a crank 44 fittedto the inner end portion of respective intermediate shaft 40; and aconnecting rod 45 hinged at one end to relative crank 44, and at theother end to the end of a tie/pushrod 46 connected integrally to acorresponding end portion of crosspiece 36, as shown in FIG. 3.

With reference to FIG. 6, shafts 40 project upwards beyond respectiveforked cranks 42, and have respective end portions 40 a connected inrotary and axially-fixed manner to respective end portions 42 a of acrosspiece 42 b; and hinge pins 22 have respective end portions 22 aconnected in rotary and axially-fixed manner to a stiffening frame 12,which extends horizontally over crosspiece 42 b and perpendicularly toplane P, and is fitted integrally to crosspiece 42 b by a number ofscrews 13.

The FIG. 5 embodiment shows a mold opening/closing device 50, whichdiffers from device 10 in a few construction details, and the componentparts of which are indicated, where possible, using the same referencenumbers as for the corresponding parts of device 10.

Linear actuator 28 of device 50 is located outside structure 14, and,more specifically, projects from structure 14 on the opposite side ofstructure 14 to inverter 3 and half-molds 6. That is, as shown in FIG.5, device 50 comprises a fastening plate 51 fitted to structure 14 by anumber of screws 52, and to which cylinder 29 is fitted, also by meansof screws (not shown). Cylinder 29 is closed outwardly by a cover 53 todefine, with cover 53 and part of plate 52, chamber 30 in which piston31 slides. Unlike device 10, piston 31 of device 50 is fitted to endportion 34 of rod 32, which extends through fastening plate 51, isfitted to plate 51 in axially-sliding manner by a bush 55, and has anintermediate axial shoulder 56, to which a bush 57 locks a mid-portion58 of a crosspiece 59, the opposite ends 60 of which are hinged toconnecting rods 45. When crosspiece 59 is in a forward position shown inFIG. 5, cranks 44, connecting rods 45, and crosspiece 59 as a whole areset to a stable or braced condition, so the degree of closure of themold no longer varies alongside a variation in the supply pressure ofactuator 28, and precise control of actuator 28 is therefore no longernecessary.

With reference to FIGS. 4 a and 4 b, the angular position of eachmold-holder insert 18 about respective movable hinge axis 20 and withrespect to plane P of symmetry is determined, as half-molds 6 movebetween said closed position and said open position, by a singlerespective adjusting rod 65, which has one end hinged to structure 14 bya fixed hinge pin 66 parallel to axes 20 and 23, and the opposite endhinged to an appendix 67 of relative mold-holder insert 18, whichextends perpendicularly to plane P and between relative fixed axis 23and movable axis 20. Rods 65 are so designed that, as arms 19 rotateabout respective fixed hinge axes 23, rods 65 exert torque onmold-holder inserts 18 to gradually rotate mold-holder inserts 18, andtherefore half-molds 6, with respect to arms 19, so that half-molds 6move strictly parallel to themselves at all times, i.e. in an unchangingangular position with respect to plane P of symmetry. As a result,cavities 8, regardless of their number and location in the mold, are allopened simultaneously, so the articles formed in the mold undergo thesame forces/stress, thus resulting in perfectly homogeneous output.

Compared with known solutions, devices 10 and 50 described are highlyefficient and reliable, by virtue of actuator 28 being located close toplane A of gripping members 5, i.e. close to supporting and actuatingarms 19. As a result, the length of intermediate shafts 40 isdrastically reduced, thus greatly improving response, and enabling anincrease in mold open/close frequency with no noticeable delay inresponse.

As will be clear from the above description, providing a structure 14for attaching and supporting arms 19, respective inserts 18, actuator28, and transmissions 37 interposed between actuator 28 and arms 19,means the device is located entirely on top of section frame 2 andtherefore quick and easy to replace. That is, by simply removing thescrews connecting supporting structure 14 to the machine 1, devices 10,50 can be removed completely in one single operation, thus drasticallyreducing downtime.

By locating actuator 28 adjacent and parallel to plane A and along axis33 of symmetry, thus reducing the length of intermediate shafts 40 ascompared with known solutions, and by locating transmissions 37rearwards of the fixed hinge axes, the resulting device is highlycompact, and, unlike known solutions, leaves a considerable amount offreely usable space inside machine 1 and particularly alongside arms 19.

Moreover, the geometry of the linkages adopted provides for translatorymovement of the half-molds, parallel to each other at all times, usingstraightforward vertical-axis hinges, which can be formed cheaply,easily, and even to a high degree of precision, with no recourse toother types of control systems, such as guide-slide assemblies, whichare far more complex and expensive to produce and maintain.

Housing actuator 28 completely inside structure 14, as in device 10,provides for a particularly compact device.

On the other hand, locating actuator 28 outside structure 14, andcrosspiece 59 inside structure 14, i.e. close to fixed axes 23, as indevice 50, provides for obtaining extremely rigid transmissions 37 and,hence, extremely precise movement of the arms. That is, crosspiece 59,being substantially aligned with transmissions 37, is subjected toopposing compression forces that cancel each other out without producingany bending torque on crosspiece 59.

Actuator 28 being located outside structure 14 also makes for easymaintenance and fast replacement of the actuator, thus reducingdowntime.

Clearly, changes may be made to devices 10 and 50 as described hereinwithout, however, departing from the scope as defined in theaccompanying Claims.

In particular, the geometry and location of both fastening andsupporting structure 14 and arms 19 may obviously differ from thosedescribed by way of example; pneumatic actuator 28 described may bereplaced by other types of actuators, e.g. electric; and mechanicaltransmissions 37 may be formed differently from those described.

1. A device for opening/closing a mold of a glassware forming machine,the mold having a longitudinal plane of symmetry, and comprising twomovable half-molds, the device comprising: a supporting structure; foreach of two said half-molds, a respective mold-holder, and a respectivesupporting and actuating arm hinged to the respective mold-holder torotate about a respective movable hinge axis, and to a supportingstructure to rotate about a respective fixed hinge axis; and actuatingmeans for rotating the supporting and actuating arms in oppositedirections with respect to said supporting structure, and for moving thehalf-molds between a closed position and an open position; wherein saidfixed hinge axes are located on opposite sides of said plane ofsymmetry, and at such a distance from the plane of symmetry that, whenthe half-molds are in the closed position, a line intersecting saidrespective fixed axis and said respective movable hinge axis of eachrespective supporting and actuating arm extends substantially parallelto said plane of symmetry; wherein each of two said half-molds surrounda corresponding movable gripping member for retaining semifinishedarticles formed in said respective mold, said corresponding movablegripping members being maintained connected to said respectivehalf-molds and in a plane substantially perpendicular to said plane ofsymmetry; wherein said corresponding movable gripping members are in aplane substantially perpendicular to said respective fixed and movablehinge axes, and wherein said actuating means comprise at least a linearactuator intersected by said plane; wherein said linear actuatorcomprises an output rod movable back and forth in a directionperpendicular to said fixed and movable axes and parallel to said planeof symmetry; wherein said supporting structure supports all actuatingmeans, all mold-holders, and all supporting and actuating arms, and isconnected releasably to a section frame of the machine.
 2. The device asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said releasable connection is a mechanicallinkage that controllably engages said section frame, the mechanicallinkage comprising at least one of pins, worm drives, splines,fasteners, interference fitted joints, and clamps.
 3. The device asclaimed in claim 2, wherein said mechanical linkage is a screw-nutassembly.
 4. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said mechanicallinkage controllably engages said section frame by one or more ofhydraulics, pneumatics, springs, gears, cables, pulleys, andelectricity.
 5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidreleasable connection is comprised of one or more electromechanicaldevices that controllably engage said section frame.
 6. The device asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said output rod slides in a direction lyingin said plane defined by the movable gripping members.
 7. The device asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said output rod slides in a directionextending adjacent to and beneath said plane defined by the movablegripping members.
 8. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidlinear actuator is housed completely in said supporting structure. 9.The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said linear actuator projectsfrom said supporting structure in a cantilever position.
 10. The deviceas claimed in claim 1, wherein said linear actuator is connected to saidsupporting structure in a releasable manner.
 11. A device foropening/closing a mold of a glassware forming machine, the mold having alongitudinal plane of symmetry, and comprising two movable half-molds,the device comprising: a supporting structure; for each of two saidhalf-molds, a respective mold-holder, and a respective supporting andactuating arm hinged to the respective mold-holder to rotate about arespective movable hinge axis, and to a supporting structure to rotateabout a respective fixed hinge axis; and actuating means for rotatingthe supporting and actuating arms in opposite directions with respect tosaid supporting structure, and for moving the half-molds between aclosed position and an open position; wherein said fixed hinge axes arelocated on opposite sides of said plane of symmetry, and at such adistance from the plane of symmetry that, when the half-molds are in theclosed position, a line intersecting said respective fixed axis and saidrespective movable hinge axis of each respective supporting andactuating arm extends substantially parallel to said plane of symmetry;wherein each of two said half-molds surround a corresponding movablegripping member for retaining semifinished articles formed in saidrespective mold, said corresponding movable gripping members beingmaintained connected to said respective half-molds and in a planesubstantially perpendicular to said plane of symmetry; wherein saidcorresponding movable gripping members are in a plane substantiallyperpendicular to said respective fixed and movable hinge axes, andwherein said actuating means comprise at least a linear actuatorintersected by said plane; wherein said linear actuator comprises anoutput rod movable back and forth in a direction perpendicular to saidfixed and movable axes and parallel to said plane of symmetry, whereinsaid output rod slides in a direction extending adjacent to and beneathsaid plane defined by the movable gripping members; wherein saidsupporting structure supports all actuating means, all mold-holders, andall supporting and actuating arms, and is connected releasably to asection frame of the machine.
 12. The device as claimed in claim 1,wherein a plurality of degrees of reduction are provided between saidlinear actuator and said supporting and actuating arms.
 13. The deviceas claimed in claim 11, wherein a plurality of degrees of reduction areprovided between said linear actuator and said supporting and actuatingarms.
 14. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said releasableconnection is releasable by other than a destructive means.
 15. Thedevice as claimed in claim 14, wherein said supporting structure isconnected releasably as a single piece to said section frame.
 16. Thedevice as claimed in claim 14, wherein said supporting structure isreleasable in a single operation from said section frame.
 17. The deviceas claimed in claim 11, wherein said releasable connection is releasableby other than a destructive means.
 18. The device as claimed in claim17, wherein said supporting structure is connected releasably as asingle piece to said section frame.
 19. The device as claimed in claim17, wherein said supporting structure is releasable in a singleoperation from said section frame.